Aside

Rich Pauloo, PhD

View this CV online with links at neilmthomas.com/cv

Contact

Foreign Language Skills

Basic Italian

Language Skills

R
Python
Matlab
LaTeX
Markdown
C/C++



Disclaimer

Last updated on 2021-05-22.

Main

Neil M. Thomas, PhD

My research revolves around determining the sensorimotor transformations that subserve human movement, with an emphasis on the impacts of ageing. My goals are firstly to discern why older adults exhibit behaviour indicative of a reduced ability to accommodate and/or adapt to their surrounds (e.g. in the context of falls risk); and secondly, to generate evidence-based guidance on appropriate use and design/modification of older adult spaces to optimise safety and comfort. I employ a human-centred and data-driven approach that leverages state-of-the-art in psychology; human perception; eye tracking; and biomechanical modelling.

Education

PhD, Visuomotor Neuroscience

University of Lancaster

Lancaster, UK

2017 - 2014

  • Thesis: The effects of eye movements on postural control.
  • Supervisors: Drs. Theodoros M. Bampouras & Susan Dewhurst, Prof. Tim Donovan.
  • Disseminated results in 3 scientific papers (first-author), see “Publications”, several conferences, see “Conference Proceedings”, and the local news.
  • Won Research Project of the Year award at host institution.

BSc, Sports and Exercise Science (First-Class Hons)

University of Cumbria

Lancaster, UK

2014 - 2011

  • Published dissertation in scientific paper (first-author).
  • Completed and published outcome of NHS Service Evaluation, received runner-up poster prize at NHS Research and Innovation Showcase.



Professional & Research Experience

Product Specialist

Pupil Labs GmbH

Berlin, DE

Present - 2020

  • Software development: Artificial pupil detector, IMU fusion algorithm, Network API tutorials (e.g. network/device synchronisation), customer support (e.g. code snippets).
  • Writing: Online documentation and tutorials, research digest blog.
  • Product training, tailored research support, sales and product demonstrations.
  • Regularly use Python and Git

Post-doctoral Research Fellow

Liverpool John Moores University

Liverpool, UK

2020 - 2017

  • Project: Looking in the right places to prevent stair falls in older adults, supervised by Prof. Mark A. Hollands.
  • Collected and analysed movement and perception of older adults negotiating stairs to study the links between visual sampling, fear of falling, and biomechanical indicators of falls risk.
  • Completed battery of cognitive and physiological assessments to classify higher and lower-ability groups.
  • Leveraged cutting-edge eye tracking and motion capture, regularly implemented Python and R.

I have developed and implemented several technical solutions to support my research aims. View my projects here.



Teaching & Mentoring Experience

I attended teacher practice training whilst employed at Liverpool John Moores University, where I subsequently obtained Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)

Guest Lecturer: Biomechanics Research (level 5)

Lancaster University

Lancaster, UK

Present - 2021

  • Delivery of a yearly guest lecture on wider Biomechanics research, drawing on own scholarly work to deliver research-led teaching and learning.

PhD Co-supervisor

Liverpool John Moores University

Liverpool, UK

Present - 2018

  • Co-supervision of a PhD student in the laboratory of Dr Richard Foster

Sessional Lecturer: Digital Technologies (MED.115, level 4)

Lancaster University

Lancaster, UK

2021

  • Organised and delivered online module sessions and formative assessments for 29 students

Teaching Support Officer: Cognition, Motor Control, 2D & 3D Motion Capture (levels 4–6)

Liverpool John Moores University

Liverpool, UK

2021 - 2019

  • Organised and delivered practical seminars incorporating demonstrations, problem-based learning and informal assessments/feedback to groups of 6–40 students.
  • Module content developed in collaboration with senior staff members, used relevant pedagogical literature, ensuring learning outcomes were met for curriculum.

Mentor/Supervisor

Liverpool John Moores University

Liverpool, UK

2020 - 2018

  • Trained several junior team members in laboratory techniques (e.g. eye tracking, motion capture, hardware synchronisation) to ensure competence.

Teaching Support Officer: (level 6)

Liverpool John Moores University

Liverpool, UK

2018 - 2017

  • Supervised final year project data collection in visuomotor control.
  • Trained placement students in groups of 3–6 how to evaluate methods of assessing visual perception.

Hourly Paid Academic: Advanced Research Methods (level 6)

University of Cumbria

Lancaster, UK

2017

  • Organised and delivered content in qualitative and quantitative research methods, including study design and statistical analysis, to approx. 30 students.
  • Marked final year formative written assessments and poster presentations.



Honorary Academic Appointment(s)

Visiting Researcher

Liverpool John Moores University

Liverpool, UK

Present - 2020



Grants and Awards

With the support of Prof. Mark Hollands, I recently submitted my first funding application as Principle Investigator, with the aim of extending our research into real-world environments

Dunhill Medical Trust: PI Suitable Living Environments

200,000 GBP (outcome pending)

Liverpool, UK

2021

  • Using body worn sensors to inform data-driven home modifications with the aim of reducing falls risk in older adults

Research Project of the Year

Lancaster University

Lancaster, UK

2017

Runner-up Poster Prize

Lancashire Teaching Hospital Trust Research and Innovation Showcase

Preston, UK

2013



Selected Publications

Influence of step-surface visual properties on confidence, anxiety, dynamic stability, and gaze behaviour in young and older adults

Human Movement Science, 10.1016/j.humov.2021.102774

N/A

2021

  • Thomas NM, Skervin T, Foster RJ, O’Brien TD, Carpenter MG, Maganaris N, Baltzopoulos V, Lees C, & Hollands MA

Conference Proceedings

Validation of a LiDAR-based player tracking system during football-specific tasks

ISB World Congress

Online

2021

  • Thomas NM & Bampouras TM

Lightbulb characteristics affect stepping biomechanics during stair descent in young and older adults

ISPGR World Congress

Edinburgh, UK

2019

  • Thomas NM, Lees C, Maganaris N, Foster RJ, O’Brien TD, Skervin T, Baltzopoulos V, & Hollands MA

Low lighting drives more cautious stair descent in young adults

International Posture Symposium

Smolenice, SK

2018

  • Thomas NM, Lees C, Maganaris N, Foster RJ, O’Brien TD, Skervin T, Baltzopoulos V, & Hollands MA

Visually fixating or tracking another person decreases balance control in young and older females walking in a real-world scenario

International Posture Symposium

Smolenice, SK

2018

  • Thomas NM, Donovan T, Dewhurst S, & Bampouras TM

Eye movements affect postural control in young and older females

Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science

Vienna, AT

2016

  • Thomas NM, Donovan T, Dewhurst S, & Bampouras TM

Promoting and monitoring exercise among renal patients

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Research and Innovation Showcase

Preston, UK

2015

  • Thomas NM, Dewhurst S, & Bampouras TM

Homogeneity of fascicle architecture following repeated contractions in the human gastrocnemius medialis

BASES Student Conference

Portsmouth, UK

2014

  • Thomas NM, Dewhurst S, & Bampouras TM



Selected Science Writing

Eye tracking reveals altered gaze characteristics in children with developmental coordination disorder1

N/A

N/A

2021

Augmented visualization cues on primary flight display facilitating pilots’ monitoring performance2

N/A

N/A

2021

Optimising the appearance and design of stairs to reduce falls risk in older adults, The Sport and Exercise Scientist, Issue 67 Spring 20213

N/A

N/A

2021

Gaze and walking and how they impact on balance, The Care Home Environment4

N/A

N/A

2018



Certifications

Wilderness First Responder

N/A

National Outdoor Leadership School

N/A

Software Carpentry Instructor

N/A

Software Carpentry

N/A